Food and Nutrition Programs

October 1 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data Collection Report

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Office for Food and Nutrition Programs (FNP) is required to report Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) direct certification match data on an annual basis. The data is needed to help calculate the state's SNAP direct certification rate, which is reported to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through two state reports. USDA regulations require states to directly certify at least a ninety-five (95) percent of school aged children in SNAP households.

To compute a state SNAP match rate, direct certification data collected from Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to the State agency (SA) must be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on an annual basis including Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and Provision 2 schools.

The October 1 SNAP Data Collection Report is now available and must be submitted to the State Agency no later than October 15^th, annually. The Direct Certification data reported, must include any child in a household receiving assistance under SNAP matched from July 1 – September 30^th of the current school year. The report requires each LEA to submit all students matched through direct certification with a Free Exact Match SNAP determination, reported by site. The Match Source column on the Match ID Report will identify students certified with SNAP.

The October 1 SNAP Data Collection Report can be found in the FY 25 Compliance Packet in the DESE Security Portal; the report is due October 15^th, 2024. Failure to comply with the annual data reporting requirements may result in the temporary suspension of reimbursement claims.

For questions, please refer to the Help function within the October 1 SNAP Data Collection Report component in the Compliance Packet, in addition to contacting your School Nutrition Programs DESE Consultant.